Paint Refreshed Tote for a Farm Table Vignette

Hey friends, Here we are in November and it's all about the upcoming Holiday Season. Call me old fashioned or a traditionalist, but I can't bypass Thanksgiving. It's always been my favorite holiday and season so I'm sharing some late November decor posts and Thanksgiving, and then also bringing in some Christmas decor and inspiration too. Even though I love Thanksgiving, I too am ready to see some Christmas inspiration and ideas. Let's have both!!!

On another track, I've come to realize I'm not a very good tutorialist or DIY'er. Mostly because I often fly by the seat of my pants with a decor project, not having a real plan. And... I tend to be messy with paint, glue and whatever medium I might be using. One time I was working with moss and glue on a wreath and after trying to capture "real time" crafting; my camera was a mess and I was totally frustrated to the point I wanted to throw it all away. 

I say all that to excuse me from not having pics of this wonderful wooden tote that I gave a paint makeover to last week. I bought it from a friend whose husband was an amazing woodworker, who made this big heavy tote back in the mid-eighties. I guess it might qualify as a "carpenter's tote", since it's so large. It had a dark walnut stain since this was before the "white" craze hit. We used it for years as a magazine or blanket holder but since moving here it just sat empty in the basement. Time to make use of this great piece. For the makeover I used a double base coat of ASCP Old Ochre and a top coat with Old White with a little sanding and distressing. I like to use a thin coat of polyurethane liquid for a sealing coat.

I do love a statement piece as a table centerpiece so I decided I would give this big boy a makeover with paint in hopes I might be able to use it on the farm table or even the dining room table during Fall or Christmas. I brought it out to the farm table and styled it for November with some foraged leaves and sticks from our back yard. I'd bought some large pear "picks" earlier in the year but hadn't used them yet. I used florist tape and added them to the sticks, which look perfect with the new look of the tote.

My large white Turkey Guy is joining in for the Thanksgiving tableau along with several other accessories including a large vintage amber bottle, a few pumpkins and some candlelight. I love the oak leaves and they come off the tree in large clumps. Not good for raking or mulching but perfect for a colorful fall display.

I gathered all the leaves, stems, and evergreens from our back yard and placed them in my medium sized olive bucket. I tried them out on the table, but the bucket really overwhelmed the grouping, so off it went. Pretty, but I wanted the large tote to be the focus.

In place of the olive bucket, I used a faux ivy topiary to balance things out.

I love candles during the fall and winter months, so today I'm enjoying a favorite scent, Autumn Woods from Antique Candle Co. (this isn't a sponsored post, just love sharing the good stuff.)

Stay tuned for this tote to have some Christmas love added to it soon!

Hope you're having a beautiful week. It's supposed to be 75 today.

Indian Summer.

Please come by the link party on Monday evenings.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey

Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest

 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  Fabulous Friday at WM Design House